Russia (Russian Federation)

https://www.humantruth.info/russia.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Russia Russian Federation
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	88th best
Capital	Moscow
Land Area	16 376 870km²₁
Location	Asia
Population	145.7m₂
Life Expectancy	69.42yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$27 166 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	RU, RUS, 643₅
Internet Domain	.ru, .su₆
Currency	Ruble (RUB)₇
Telephone	+7₈

1. Overview

“Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new Romanov Dynasty continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia. Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 contributed to the Revolution of 1905, which resulted in the formation of a parliament and other reforms. Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the imperial household. The Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Iosif STALIN (1928-53) strengthened Communist rule and Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the following decades until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize Communism, but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into Russia and 14 other independent republics. Since then, Russia has shifted its post-Soviet democratic ambitions in favor of a centralized semi-authoritarian state in which the leadership seeks to legitimize its rule through managed national elections, populist appeals by President PUTIN, and continued economic growth. Russia has severely disabled a Chechen rebel movement, although violence still occurs throughout the North Caucasus.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“From beautiful Lake Baikal to St Petersburg´s gilded palaces, Russia is so blessed with cultural and natural treasures that it would take a lifetime to experience them all. For centuries the world has wondered about Russia. The country has been reported as a land of unbelievable riches and indescribable poverty, cruel tyrants and great minds, generous hospitality and meddlesome bureaucracy, beautiful ballets and industrial monstrosities, pious faith and unbridled hedonism.
These eternal Russian truths coexist in equally diverse landscapes of icy tundra and sunkissed beaches, dense silver-birch forests, deep, mysterious lakes, snowcapped mountains and swaying grassland steppes. Factor in ancient fortresses, luxurious palaces, swirly-spired churches and lost-in-time wooden villages and you´ll begin to see why Russia is simply amazing.
Two decades on from the demise of the Soviet Union, an economically and politically resurgent Russia is a brash, exciting and fascinating place to visit.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Russia National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
49	Montenegro	0.832
50	Kuwait	0.831
51	Brunei	0.829
52	Russia	0.822
53	Romania	0.821
54	Oman	0.816
55	Bahamas	0.812
56	Kazakhstan	0.811
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
48	Croatia	$30 132
49	Romania	$30 027
50	Greece	$29 002
51	Russia	$27 166
52	Oman	$27 054
53	Panama	$26 957
54	Malaysia	$26 658
55	Seychelles	$25 831
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	27.2
2	Norway	29.2
3	Sweden	30.2
	...
85	Bahamas	84.4
86	Cape Verde	84.6
87	Dominican Rep.	85.9
88	Russia	86.2
89	Vatican City	86.3
90	Armenia	86.7
91	Kazakhstan	87.4
92	St Vincent & Grenadines	87.4
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	89.2
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Russia's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Russia's population is predicted to fall to 136 429 000 by 2030. Developed countries with falling populations face a pension's crises, whereby an increasingly ageing population must be cared for by fewer and fewer workers. Economic stability can be maintained by increasing foreign workers from younger countries. This country has a fertility rate of 1.42. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
4	Indonesia	267.7m
5	Pakistan	212.2m
6	Brazil	209.5m
7	Nigeria	195.9m
8	Bangladesh	161.4m
9	Russia	145.7m
10	Japan	127.2m
11	Mexico	126.2m
12	Ethiopia	109.2m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
121	Kyrgyzstan	70.0
122	St Vincent & Grenadines	69.6
123	Cambodia	69.6
124	Russia	69.4
125	Azerbaijan	69.4
126	Kazakhstan	69.4
127	Philippines	69.3
128	Turkmenistan	69.3
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
100=	Greece	1.43
100=	Portugal	1.43
102	Bolivia	2.58
103	Russia	1.42
104=	Austria	1.41
104=	Norway	1.41
104=	Estonia	1.41
107	Bhutan	1.40
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₆
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₆
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
137	Armenia	28.7
138=	Thailand	29.2
138=	Ireland	29.2
140	Russia	29.5
141	Georgia	29.7
142	Montenegro	30.0
143	Belarus	30.3
144	Ukraine	30.8
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₇
Pos.		2017 %₁₇
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
65	Portugal	8.5%
66	Suriname	8.5%
67	Costa Rica	8.4%
68	Russia	8.1%
69	Congo, (Brazzaville)	7.6%
70	Botswana	7.3%
71	St Lucia	7.2%
72	S. Africa	7.1%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₈
Pos.		2010 %₁₈
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
79	Poland	8.3%
80	Afghanistan	8.1%
81	Paraguay	7.9%
82	Russia	7.9%
83	Mali	7.6%
84	UK	7.5%
85	Honduras	7.5%
86	Austria	7.1%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #russia #russia_women #syria #tolerance #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	7.5
2	Netherlands	8.6
3	Denmark	9.0
	...
117	Marshall Islands	102.9
118	Rwanda	103.1
119	Haiti	104.1
120	Russia	104.6
121	Sri Lanka	104.8
122	Mozambique	104.8
	Asia Avg	110.11
	World Avg	90.04
q=198.

Russia is very poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world, and it has cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Russia does better than average when it comes to the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₀, opposing gender inequality₂₁, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₂ and in its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₃. Russia still has work to do. Russia does worse than average when it comes to freethought₂₄, its average Freedom in the World rating and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₅. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 for commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₆, combatting modern slavery₂₇ and in supporting press freedom₂₈. Russia was one of the 10 countries that did not sign the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948₂₉. It actively abuses international law to cover for its own human rights abuses and for those of its allies. By late 2017, it had cast 11 vetoes to block the UN Security Council from addressing Syrian government war crimes. In 2017, the rate of punishments for (supposedly) violating laws on public gatherings was five times greater than the year before - as protests against corruption and other issues continued, "officials harassed and intimidated protesters" including beating them₃₀. New laws on "foreign funding" have meant that several human rights and environmental groups have had to close from 2012₃₀. In recent years, Russia has become the most repressive it has been since the breakup of the Soviet Union₃₁. Socially, the country suffers from great inequality between the powerful and all others: the richest 1% draw 20% of the country's entire income₃₂.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Russia

5. Russia's Health

#health

Compared to Asia (2025)₃₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₃
1	Japan	40.8
2	Singapore	43.3
3	S. Korea	53.7
	...
19	Iran	80.8
20	Maldives	82.2
21	Armenia	85.3
22	Russia	86.8
23	Saudi Arabia	88.6
24	Turkmenistan	90.2
25	Kazakhstan	90.8
26	Lebanon	92.1
27	Uzbekistan	92.2
	Asia Avg	90.68
q=50.

Health (2025)₃₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₃
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
81	Latvia	85.5
82	Lithuania	85.5
83	Morocco	85.7
84	Russia	86.8
85	Romania	87.5
86	Saudi Arabia	88.6
87	Brazil	89.0
88	Colombia	89.1
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₄. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₄.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₄, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₄.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #russia #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Russia has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Russia does better than average in delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₅, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₆, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₇, childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₈, its adolescent birth rate₃₉ and in its fertility rate₁₅. Russia doesn't do so well in other areas. Russia does worse than average when it comes to its average life expectancy₁₁, its smoking rate₄₀ and in the prevalence of overweight adults₄₁. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 for its alcohol consumption rate₄₂ (the highest in Asia) and in its suicide rate₄₃. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in Russian Federation improved by +5.4yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Russia has had a long-term consistent fertility rate, and is one of only 22 countries to vary by less than 1.0 each decade since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 2.52 in 1960.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
121	Kyrgyzstan	70.0
122	St Vincent & Grenadines	69.6
123	Cambodia	69.6
124	Russia	69.4
125	Azerbaijan	69.4
126	Kazakhstan	69.4
127	Philippines	69.3
128	Turkmenistan	69.3
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₄₂
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₄₂
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
171=	Austria	11.6
171=	Estonia	11.6
171=	Poland	11.6
174	Russia	11.7
175	Seychelles	12.0
176	Belgium	12.1
177	Portugal	12.3
178=	Slovenia	12.6
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
100=	Greece	1.43
100=	Portugal	1.43
102	Bolivia	2.58
103	Russia	1.42
104=	Austria	1.41
104=	Norway	1.41
104=	Estonia	1.41
107	Bhutan	1.40
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₄₀
Pos.		Smoking in the 2020s %₄₀
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
129	Nepal	28.4%
130	Spain	28.5%
131	Chile	28.8%
132	Russia	29.2%
133	Mongolia	29.6%
134	Moldova	29.7%
135	Marshall Islands	29.9%
136	Czechia	30.0%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better₄₃
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k₄₃
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
	...
178	Belarus	24.43
179	Swaziland	24.89
180	Suriname	25.29
181	Lesotho	26.45
182	S. Korea	29.96
183	Russia	30.84
184	Guyana	31.18
185	Lithuania	33.72
	Asia Avg	7.22
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
40	Brazil	40
41	Iceland	41
42	El Salvador	42
43	Russia	43
44	Turkey	44
45	Mexico	45
46	Malaysia	46
47	Czechia	47
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₄₁
Pos.		1976 %₄₁
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
166	Australia	42.4
167	Lithuania	42.6
168	New Zealand	42.7
169	Russia	43.8
170=	Belgium	43.9
170=	Estonia	43.9
172	Hungary	44.0
173	Latvia	44.1
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₄₄
Pos.		2022 %₄₄
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
118	Bolivia	27.8%
119	Armenia	27.9%
120	Guyana	28.0%
121	Russia	28.0%
122	Greenland	28.2%
123	Tunisia	28.3%
124	Uzbekistan	28.5%
125	Honduras	28.5%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₉
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
56	New Zealand	11.8
57	Serbia	14.4
58	Albania	14.5
59	Russia	14.5
60	USA	15.1
61	Ukraine	15.2
62	Sri Lanka	15.4
63	Turkey	15.7
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₃₇
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %₃₇
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
46=	Fiji	97.1
46=	Ghana	97.1
46=	St Kitts & Nevis	97.1
49=	Russia	97.0
49=	Tunisia	97.0
51=	Kazakhstan	96.9
51=	Antigua & Barbuda	96.9
51=	Saudi Arabia	96.9
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₃₅
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₅
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
31=	Kazakhstan	97.1
32	Albania	97.1
33	Andorra	97.1
34	Russia	97.0
35	Guyana	97.0
36	Slovakia	97.0
37	Kyrgyzstan	96.7
38	Brazil	96.7
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₈
Pos.		Infant Mortality (2020s) Per 1000₃₈
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
49	Chile	7.93
50	Qatar	7.95
51	Malaysia	8.13
52	Russia	8.36
53	Bulgaria	8.60
54	Uruguay	9.08
55	Sri Lanka	9.10
56	Costa Rica	9.40
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. Russia's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #russia #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₅
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
30	Saudi Arabia	94.9
31	Israel	95.8
32=	Laos	97.0
33	Russia	99.2
34	Myanmar	99.9
35	Kuwait	100.5
36	Azerbaijan	101.2
37	Oman	101.8
38	Iraq	102.8
	Asia Avg	88.09
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₅
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
146	Montenegro	97.3
147	Sudan	97.8
148	Comoros	99.1
149	Russia	99.2
150	Myanmar	99.9
151	Kuwait	100.5
152	Bahamas	100.9
153	Azerbaijan	101.2
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₆. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

With regard to its responsibility towards the environment, Russia is 149th in the world. This rank is calculated from 21 data sets. Russia does better than average for its environmental performance₄₇, its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₈ and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. Russia still has work to do. Russia does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₉ and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₅₀. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in its score on the Green Future Index₅₁ (amongst the lowest in Asia) and in energy to GDP efficiency₅₂.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₈
Pos.		Total₄₈
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
74	Portugal	1.0%
75	Micronesia	0.9%
76	Iraq	0.9%
77	Russia	0.7%
78	French Polynesia	0.6%
79	Germany	0.6%
80	Norway	0.6%
81	Cyprus	0.5%
	Asia Avg	3.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₇
Pos.		2018₄₇
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
49	Singapore	64.2
50	Poland	64.1
51	Venezuela	63.9
52	Russia	63.8
53	Brunei	63.6
54	Morocco	63.5
55	Cuba	63.4
56	Panama	62.7
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₅₂
Pos.		2022 Avg₅₂
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
151	Syria	2.12
152	Kyrgyzstan	2.20
153	Iran	2.24
154	Russia	2.25
155	Oman	2.28
156	Canada	2.29
157	Malta	2.36
158	Mozambique	2.38
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Historical data included for USSR in general in the 1960s and 1970s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		International Accords on the Environment Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
80	Philippines	62%
81	Seychelles	62%
82	Tanzania	62%
83	Russia	62%
84	Togo	61%
85	Thailand	61%
86	Zambia	61%
87	Indonesia	61%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Russia was one of 8 countries who ratified the Vienna Convention on the ozone layer in 1986 and was also amongst the first batch of countries who signed the Montreal Protocol on protecting the ozone layer in 1988, whilst most others delayed both until subsequent years.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₄₉
Pos.		2011 %₄₉
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
115	Poland	23.8%
116	Belarus	23.7%
117	Afghanistan	23.6%
118	Russia	23.5%
119	Algeria	23.5%
120	Pakistan	23.2%
121	Liberia	23.1%
122	Netherlands	23.0%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₅₀
Pos.		2021 kg₅₀
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
138	Germany	76.6
139	Greece	76.8
140	Serbia	77.6
141	Russia	78.4
142	Bolivia	78.4
143	Grenada	78.6
144	Ireland	80.2
145	Kuwait	81.3
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Russian Federation was well above the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment.₅₀

Green Future Index Higher is better₅₁
Pos.		2023 Score₅₁
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
67	Pakistan	3.7
68	Malaysia	3.7
69=	Guatemala	3.6
69=	Russia	3.6
71	Paraguay	3.6
72	Bangladesh	3.5
73	Qatar	3.4
74	Zambia	3.3
	Asia Avg	4.3
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

7. Russia's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)₅₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₅₃
1	S. Korea	23.5
2	Taiwan	25.4
3	Japan	27.4
4	Hong Kong	27.8
5	Israel	31.2
6	Singapore	33.7
7	Russia	42.7
8	Cyprus	45.4
9	Turkey	50.4
10	Malaysia	53.8
11	Kazakhstan	53.9
12	Georgia	60.6
13	Azerbaijan	65.5
	Asia Avg	86.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₅₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₅₃
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
38	Argentina	39.3
39	San Marino	40.9
40	Malta	41.0
41	Russia	42.7
42	Chile	43.4
43	Croatia	43.9
44	Ireland	44.4
45	Cyprus	45.4
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Iceland and Denmark₅₄. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₅₄. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₅.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₅₆

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₅₄, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₄.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.29₅₇
2	Israel	4.11₅₇
3	Japan	3.58₅₇
	...
27	Portugal	1.28₅₇
28	Luxembourg	1.26₅₇
29	Spain	1.22₅₇
30	Russia	1.19₅₇
31	New Zealand	1.17₅₈
32	Brazil	1.15₅₉
33	Malaysia	1.13₅₉
34	Turkey	1.01₅₇
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
50	Fiji	50
51	Dominica	51
52	Malaysia	52
53	Russia	53
54	St Lucia	54
55	Turkey	55
56	Armenia	56
57	Guinea-Bissau	57
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₆₀
Pos.		2025 %₆₀
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
71=	Kyrgyzstan	95
71=	Latvia	95
71=	Lebanon	95
71=	Russia	95
71=	Slovenia	95
71=	Peru	95
71=	N. Korea	95
71=	Panama	95
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Russia officially adopted metric in 1925₆₁. Progression:

1960 (90%): USSR metric in science/industry; minor legacy usage.
1970 (95%): Further standardization.
1980 (95%): High completeness in official sectors.
2000 (95%): Post-Soviet continuity in metric standards.
2025 (95%).

Religiosity Lower is better₆₂
Pos.		2018 %₆₂
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
16	Albania	15
17=	Lithuania	16
17=	S. Korea	16
17=	Russia	16
20=	Australia	18
20=	Vietnam	18
22=	Bulgaria	19
22=	Norway	19
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better₆₃
Pos.		2006₆₃
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
30=	Latvia	98
30=	Hungary	98
32=	Ukraine	97
32=	Russia	97
32=	Belarus	97
35=	Moldova	96
35=	Uruguay	96
35=	Slovenia	96
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education #english #maths #russia #science

In the 1990s, the expected duration of education in Russia fell by over half a year, whereas most of the rest of the world's increased.₆₄

Secondary Education Higher is better₆₅
Pos.		2018₆₅
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
19	Switzerland	96.5%
20	Moldova	96.4%
21	Germany	96.3%
22	Russia	95.9%
23	Croatia	95.7%
24	Azerbaijan	95.6%
25	USA	95.6%
26	Norway	95.4%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₆₆
Pos.		2021 Years₆₆
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
41	Thailand	15.9
42	France	15.8
43	Palau	15.8
44	Russia	15.8
45	Kazakhstan	15.8
46	UAE	15.7
47	Barbados	15.7
48	Cyprus	15.6
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better₆₇
Pos.		2015 Score₆₇
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
25=	France	1487
25=	Sweden	1487
27	Austria	1477
28	Russia	1476
29	Spain	1475
30	Czechia	1472
31	USA	1463
32	Latvia	1460
	Asia Avg	1398
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#it_security #modernity #politics #technology #the_internet

Internet Users (2020s) Higher is better
Pos.		Internet Users (2020s)
1=	Iceland	99%
1=	Kuwait	99%
1=	UAE	99%
	...
36	Latvia	91%
37	Kazakhstan	91%
38	Cyprus	91%
39	Russia	90%
40	Hungary	90%
41	Israel	89%
42	Malta	89%
43	Belarus	89%
	Asia Avg	74.9%
	World Avg	67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better₆₈
Pos.		2012₆₈
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
27	Venezuela	48
28	Azerbaijan	50
29	Rwanda	51
30	Russia	52
31	Zimbabwe	54
32	Sri Lanka	55
33	Kazakhstan	58
34	Egypt	59
	Asia Avg	56.6
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IT Security Lower is better₆₉
Pos.		2013₆₉
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
74	Sri Lanka	1.67
75	Oman	1.72
76	Iraq	1.84
77	Bangladesh	1.87
78	Sudan	1.98
79	India	2.10
80	Russia	2.42
81	USA	3.68
	Asia Avg	1.08
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better₇₀
Pos.		2017 Ratio₇₀
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
44	Italy	1.7
45	Argentina	1.4
46	Faroe Islands	1.4
47	Russia	1.3
48	Bulgaria	1.3
49	S. Korea	1.2
50	Dominican Rep.	1.1
51	Slovakia	0.8
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better₇₁
Pos.		2024₇₁
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
47	Ukraine	54.4%
48	Serbia	53.5%
49	Turkey	52.2%
50	Russia	52.1%
51	Thailand	51.4%
52	Bahrain	51.1%
53	Brazil	50.9%
54	Peru	49.9%
	Asia Avg	46.4%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Russia's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Asia (2025)₇₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₇₂
1	Singapore	16.8
2	Hong Kong	28.6
3	Japan	33.2
	...
25	Turkey	85.8
26	Georgia	86.9
27	Sri Lanka	89.3
28	Russia	90.7
29	India	91.2
30	Vietnam	91.7
31	Kyrgyzstan	93.1
32	Uzbekistan	93.8
33	Saudi Arabia	94.0
	Asia Avg	84.07
q=50.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)₇₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₇₂
1	Denmark	10.4
2	Netherlands	11.8
3	Finland	12.2
	...
106	Bolivia	88.7
107	Sri Lanka	89.3
108	Colombia	90.6
109	Russia	90.7
110	Suriname	90.9
111	Nicaragua	91.1
112	India	91.2
113	Vietnam	91.7
	World Avg	80.47
q=183.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 39 datasets, including multiple decades of data on resisting corruption, Creativity and Culture, overall happiness, Open Trading, Aid and Development, passport utility (so far), personal financial stability, World Giving Index, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

"Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #freedom #happiness #internationalism #morals #politics #russia

Corruption Higher is better₇₃
Pos.		2022 Points₇₃
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
135=	Papua New Guinea	30.0
136	Gabon	29.0
137=	Paraguay	28.0
137=	Russia	28.0
137=	Mali	28.0
140=	Pakistan	27.0
140=	Kyrgyzstan	27.0
142=	Liberia	26.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

In 1997, Russia began to be included in the Corruption Perception Index data, and entered at the 4th-worst in the world.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
98	Bolivia	98
99	El Salvador	99
100	Nicaragua	100
101	Russia	101
102	Vietnam	102
103	Armenia	103
104	Ghana	104
105	Bahrain	105
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Happiness Higher is better₇₄
Pos.		2024 Score₇₄
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
63	Honduras	6.0
64	Malaysia	6.0
65	Peru	5.9
66	Russia	5.9
67	Cyprus	5.9
68	China	5.9
69	Hungary	5.9
70	Trinidad & Tobago	5.9
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
113	China	113
114	S. Africa	114
115	Cape Verde	115
116	Russia	116
117	Angola	117
118	Guyana	118
119	Colombia	119
120	Congo, (Brazzaville)	120
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₇₅
Pos.		Passport Reach (2020s) Q₇₅
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
86	Moldova	120.7
87	Micronesia	119.7
88	Bosnia & Herzegovina	119.0
89	Russia	117.7
90	Georgia	117.5
91	Albania	117.0
92	Vanuatu	113.7
93	Turkey	112.2
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Personal Financial Stability in the 2020s Higher is better₇₆
Pos.		Personal Financial Stability in the 2020s Score₇₆
1	Denmark	9.06
2	Switzerland	9.00
3	Finland	8.96
	...
106	Kyrgyzstan	5.99
107	Lesotho	5.93
108	Nepal	5.87
109	Russia	5.86
110	Azerbaijan	5.83
111	Ivory Coast	5.82
112	Nigeria	5.75
113	Fiji	5.75
	Asia Avg	6.41
	World Avg	6.46
q=165.

World Giving Index Higher is better₇₇
Pos.		2022 %₇₇
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
22=	Serbia	46.0
22=	Netherlands	46.0
22=	Jamaica	46.0
22=	Russia	46.0
22=	Iceland	46.0
22=	Honduras	46.0
22=	Mongolia	46.0
22=	Denmark	46.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better₇₈
Pos.		2023 Score₇₈
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
155	Sudan	3.02
156	Somalia	3.04
157	Ukraine	3.04
158	Russia	3.14
159	Congo, DR	3.21
160	S. Sudan	3.22
161	Syria	3.29
162	Yemen	3.35
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
79	Georgia	79
80	Albania	80
81	Gabon	81
82	Russia	82
83	Iran	83
84	Serbia	84
85	Mexico	85
86	Cambodia	86
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
94	Qatar	94
95	Peru	95
96	Gabon	96
97	Russia	97
98	Papua New Guinea	98
99	Mexico	99
100	Senegal	100
101	Georgia	101
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₇₉
Pos.		2019 Score₇₉
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
111	Israel	4.53
112	Iran	4.72
113	Chad	4.76
114	Russia	4.90
115	France	5.01
116	Indonesia	5.07
117	Nepal	5.09
118	Burundi	5.10
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Poverty (2020s) Lower is better₈₀
Pos.		Poverty (2020s) %₈₀
1	Malaysia	0.01%
2	Bhutan	0.01%
3	Cyprus	0.02%
4	Thailand	0.03%
5	Ukraine	0.03%
6	Czechia	0.03%
7	Kazakhstan	0.04%
8	Russia	0.04%
9	Belgium	0.06%
10	Netherlands	0.07%
11	France	0.08%
12	Moldova	0.09%
	Asia Avg	3.54%
	World Avg	11.40%
q=106. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₈₁
Pos.		2019₈₁
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
55	Bahamas	6.80
56	Sri Lanka	7.00
57=	Costa Rica	7.10
57=	Russia	7.10
59	Albania	7.20
60=	Lebanon	7.40
60=	Ukraine	7.40
62	Brunei	7.60
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₈₂
Pos.		2023 %₈₂
1	Slovakia	24.1%₈₃
2	Slovenia	24.3%₈₃
3	Belarus	24.4%₈₄
	...
81=	Italy	34.8%₈₃
82	Thailand	34.9%₈₃
83	Ethiopia	35.0%₈₅
84=	Russia	35.1%₈₃
84=	Nigeria	35.1%₈₆
84=	Qatar	35.1%₈₇
87=	Liberia	35.3%₈₈
87=	Ivory Coast	35.3%₈₃
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#afterlife #belief #buddhism #christianity #god #heaven #hell #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_russia #religiosity #russia #secularisation #ukraine #universalism

Religiosity (2018)₆₂
Pos.		Lower is better %₆₂
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
16	Albania	15
17=	Lithuania	16
17=	S. Korea	16
17=	Russia	16
20=	Australia	18
20=	Vietnam	18
22=	Bulgaria	19
22=	Norway	19
24	Netherlands	20
25=	Italy	21
25=	Belarus	21
27=	Ireland	22
27=	Kazakhstan	22
27=	Spain	22
30=	Slovakia	23
30=	Ukraine	23
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)₈₉
Pos.		Higher is better %₈₉
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
16	Norway	31
17	S. Korea	30
18	Finland	28
19	Russia	27
20	Australia	25
21	Taiwan	24
22=	New Zealand	22
22=	Canada	22
24=	Latvia	20
24=	Ukraine	20
24=	Mongolia	20
27	Austria	18
28=	Slovakia	17
28=	Switzerland	17
28=	Belarus	17
31=	Greece	16
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₉₀:

	2010	2020
Christian	77.1%	69.9%
Unaffiliated	13%	20.2%
Muslim	8.62%	8.19%
Other	0.684%	1.18%
Buddhist	0.364%	0.352%
Jewish	0.138%	<0.1%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%

By adding up the Pew Forum data for the major monotheistic religions we can see that these make up 78.2% of the population. Yet there are simply too many who disbelieve in God for this to be true (27%). This is due to the so-called 'Census Effect', whereby many put down a religion for cultural reasons rather than because it reflects their beliefs. In highly Christian countries, as many as half of those who say they're a Christian lack any connection to a Church, and do not hold Christian beliefs (such as believing in God!).

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 79.8% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 16% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

"Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006 est.). note: estimates are of practicing worshipers; Russia has large populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy of over seven decades of Soviet rule₉₁.

The Afterlife: Ipsos-NA in 2011 gathered some statistics on Russia₉₂. Despite the large numbers of Christians, not many have traditional beliefs in the afterlife - just 12%. More people don't know what to believe (36%). Some believe that upon death, you simply cease to exist (12%). Also, 2% specifically believe in heaven but not in hell (which is nice - making them possible "universalists"). 5% believe in reincarnation.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Freedom of religion and belief is protected in law and in the constitution, however, Article 282 of the Criminal Code bans "Inciting religious hatred" which is sometimes over-used, or misused for political purposes₉₃. The Russian Orthodox Church has run long-term and officially supported campaigns to restrict other religious groups₉₄_,₃₁, especially since the religious liberalisation of Russia in 1990₉₄: "Since July 2016, when the “Yarovaya Law” entered into force, authorities fined over 100 religious activists, mainly evangelist Christians" for various minor oversights and The Jehovah's Witnesses were outlawed in 2017₃₀. The Russian Orthodox Church in conjunction with the State have been blocking the UN Human Rights Council and also putting obstacles in the way of Human Rights elsewhere₃₁. They were the only mainstream religious body to condone Russia's invasion of Ukraine, much to the horror of other Christians and followers around the world₉₅.

Links:

9.1. The Russian Orthodox Church as an Organ of the State₉₆

#christianity #religion_and_politics #Russia #secularisation #ukraine

Post-Communist Russia dropped its rugged opposition to organized religion, and allowed religious groups to operate again. The result was a revival of interest in religion₉₇_,₉₈, causing a statistical tick in a world that is otherwise generally undergoing a process of secularisation (loss of religion). The Russian state pushes Orthodox Christianity, which has proven itself useful as "a tool for reconstructing political and geopolitical identity in a post-Soviet era"₉₉. Without the ideology of the USSR to hold people together, Russia finds that Orthodox Christianity is a rather similar tool, so much so, that all of its traditional battles against human rights, conducted in the name of communism, are now handily conducted in the name of Christian identity, as are other political aims.

“Agadjanian (2006) underscores that 'religion was revived from Soviet oblivion, by both religious and secular camps, as a grand narrative believed to be full of strong symbolic content available for collective identity quests' [and] the same was true in other Eastern Orthodox countries Borowik (2006) underscores that 'in all the Eastern European cases, religion has probably become more important because it offers a tool for reconstructing political and geopolitical identity in a post-Soviet era.”
"The Meaning and Scope of Secularization" by Karel Dobbelaere (2011)₉₉

Christian leaders around the world despaired in horror when in 2022 the Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox church, backed by his high-ranking Christian clergy, preached that the war against Ukraine was a righteous war being fought by that good man Putin for the future of Christianity in Ukraine, repeating official Russian excuses for the invasion.₁₀₀.

See:

"Political Power Struggles and Identity Reinforcement: Why are People Religious?" by Vexen Crabtree (2022)

10. Russian Disinformation Warfare and Internet Trolling

#democracy_challenges #disinformation #Elon_Musk #facebook #information_warfare #russia #tiktok #twitter

Information warfare is an explicit part of Russian doctrine, deemed suitable for peace-time₁₀₁_,₁₀₂. Aside from direct and easily recognizable propaganda found in Russia Today and Sputnik₁₀₂, the internet has seen 'web brigades' of Russian-paid actors trawling for content on selected topics, who then make destructive, abusive, aggressive, untrue and confusing comments, for the purpose of spreading doubt and disrupting conversations. This occurs on news sites' comments sections and on social media, in particular, on poorly-moderated platforms such as TikTok, Twitter and Facebook. Twitter in particular has become a swamp of such lies and misinformation since Elon Musk dismissed its content moderation teams. They often spread popularist and divisive content and as such, tend to be reposted by far-right activists; Donald Trump himself sometimes shares misinformation invented by Russian troll accounts.

The actors are often paid per comment, and specifically, for the amount of replies they generate, which means they often say things that are untrue and contentious; the quantity of replies boost the trolls' comments to the top of the list below the article. Because it is paid, those who participate are from around the world, not just from inside Russia. One of the first well-known troll farms was the "Internet Research Agency" owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who also ran the mercenary Wagner Group for Russia. Another is Operation Doppleganger which saw two companies, Structura National Technology and Social Design Agency, produce a range of slick websites that mimicked other news sites, but with fake news₁₀₃. Operation Overload seeks to overwhelm news and fact-checkers with false material₁₀₄_,₁₀₅. There is almost no counter to these trolls; they successfully disrupt conversations especially when several of them act together against a particular outlet, and, concerted campaigns can, and have, increase instability in Western countries₁₀₆ and influenced elections₁₀₂_,₁₀₇.

For more, see:

"Russian Disinformation Warfare and Internet Trolling" by Vexen Crabtree (2024).

11. Russia Against Europe

#estonia #EU #europe #france #georgia #germany #politics #russia #UK #ukraine

NATO has been warning for some time that Russia has been conducting long-term information warfare operations in Europe₁₀₈_,₁₀₂, on a scale and sophistication that dwarves anything that NATO or Europe is doing in response₁₀₉. "Senior Russian political figures have long cultivated relationships with nationalist and often anti-EU parties in Europe"₁₁₀ (e.g. in the UK, France, Germany)₁₀₂. They also fund and encourage mainstream parties (such as the UK's Conservatives₁₁₁), if they are doing enough damage to the EU.₁₀₆. On top of this, cyber-attacks and military operations have been used to subdue and intimidate several Baltic and Eastern-European countries (Estonia, Ukraine, Georgia)₁₀₆_,₁₁₂_,₁₁₃.

For more, see:

"Russia Against Europe" by Vexen Crabtree (2018).